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Key publications on Germany’s Energiewende

Reporting on Germany’s generational Energiewende can be challenging for even the most seasoned journalist. Government institutions, NGOs and researchers publish a myriad of studies, reports, data collections and analyses every year. This factsheet provides a chronological overview to help navigate the key recurring publications that provide a wealth of Energiewende data.

Published continuously:

About a month after the end of each quarter, AGEB publishes data for Germany's primary energy consumption and gross power generation, including the relative share from different energy sources. The final annual report for the previous year is published in March. AGEB also provides separate files with graphs and data for each energy source individually.AGEB is an energy market research group set up by several major German energy industry associations and economic research institutes. Its purpose is to evaluate current statistics in all areas of the energy market and to publish their results.

BDEW updates its data on household and industry power prices several times per year. It’s broken down into components such as acquisition/sales charges, grid fees, taxes and the EEG surcharge.BDEW is the largest energy industry association in Germany. It has 1,800 members, including local and municipal utilities and Germany’s “big four” energy companies.

Agora Energiewende provides details of Germany’s power generation and consumption in this interactive chart. Generation data for renewables is broken down into solar, wind, water and biomass, and it is possible to adjust the displayed time frame. It includes preliminary data for the current day. Detailed data on conventional power generation broken down into different fuel types is available only on the following day.Agora Energiewende is a think tank – funded by the European Climate Foundation and the Stiftung Mercator – that focuses on dialogue with energy policymakers. It initiates and commissions research and uses the results to identify the challenges of the Energiewende, present possible solutions and define strategies for transforming Germany’s electricity sector.

Similar to Agora Energiewende’s Agorameter, BNetzA provides details of Germany’s power generation and consumption on its online platform SMARD. The website explains key aspects of Germany’s electricity market and lets you download data.BNetzA supervises operators of energy supply networks together with the regulatory bodies of Germany’s 16 states. It ensures all users can access and use the energy supply network on a non-discriminatory basis. The agency is also responsible for tasks related to expanding the electricity grid.

Fraunhofer ISE, through the project Energy Charts, provides data on net power generation of power plants for public power supply, net installed power generation capacity, power exchanges (imports/exports) and power prices, updated year-round, using other institutions' data.Fraunhofer ISE is the largest solar energy research institute in Europe.

Every month, the TSOs release the national green energy account, an overview of all income and expenditures resulting from the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). Furthermore, an overall balance of the EEG-surcharge account is given.Netztransparenz.de is a joint information platform of Germany's four transmission system operators (TSO) 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW, used to publish information the TSOs are obliged to make publicly available.

Throughout the year, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) publishes results for solar, wind and other renewables auctions. Here, BNetzA presents the results of the current year.BNetzA supervises operators of energy supply networks together with federal state regulatory bodies. It ensures all users can access and use the energy supply network on a non-discriminatory basis. The agency is also responsible for tasks related to expanding the electricity grid.

Published annually:

Early each year, UBA releases two separate reports, one with final data on Germany's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the year before the one that just ended broken down by sector, and the other on air quality for the last year. UBA's data forms the basis for Germany's GHG emissions reports to the UN under the Kyoto Protocol.The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is a scientific government agency. It gathers data on the state of the environment, investigates interrelationships and makes projections – and then, based on these findings, provides federal bodies such as the Ministry of the Environment with policy advice. It also implements environmental law by ensuring it is applied in areas such as CO₂ trading.

UBA releases first estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data for the previous year.The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is a scientific government agency. It gathers data on the state of the environment, investigates interrelationships and makes projections – and then, based on these findings, provides federal bodies such as the Ministry of the Environment with policy advice. It also implements environmental law by ensuring it is applied in areas such as CO₂ trading.

AGEE-Stat releases first estimates of the previous year’s data on renewables development, including gross power production from renewable energies and the share of renewables in primary energy consumption.AGEE-Stat is made up of experts from various federal ministries and agencies, and consolidates data on the development of renewable energy in Germany.

Germany’s four TSOs publish the previous year’s final green energy account.Netztransparenz.de is a joint information platform of Germany's four transmission system operators (TSO) 50Hertz, Amprion, TenneT and TransnetBW, used to publish information the TSOs are obliged to make publicly available.

Since 2012, pollster TNS Emnid, on behalf of AEE, has asked around 1,000 Germans each year how important they regard “increased use and expansion of renewable energy […]”, as its key phrase to gauge citizens’ support for the Energiewende. Interviewees are also asked about their support for renewable energy installations in their neighbourhood and the overall advantages of renewable energy.The Renewable Energies Agency is a communication platform funded by a group of companies from the renewable energy sector, renewable energy associations and two federal ministries. According to its website, its objective is to: “[…] communicate the most important advantages of a sustainable energy supply on the basis of renewable energy […]”.

BNetzA, together with the Federal Cartel Office, jointly publish a Monitoring Report on Germany’s power and gas sectors. The report focuses on developments in Germany's power and gas markets in the current year and includes analyses of power and gas generation, grids, trans-border exchanges, and wholesale (spot) and retail markets.BNetzA supervises operators of energy supply networks together with regulatory bodies of Germany’s 16 federal states. It ensures all users can access and use the energy supply network on a non-discriminatory basis. The agency is also responsible for tasks related to expanding the electricity grid.

In 2014, the federal government initiated Germany’s Climate Action Programme 2020 to ensure the country meets its goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 40 percent by 2020, compared to 1990. Until then, the BMU is obliged to publish its Climate Protection Report on the impact of Climate Action Programme measures and expected GHG reductions on an annual basis.

The BMWi publishes a comprehensive Energiewende Monitoring Report on an annual basis. It covers and analyses the most crucial developments and targets of the Energiewende in the current year, such as the share of renewables in power production, primary energy consumption, GHG emissions and energy efficiency. Every three years, the BMWi releases a Progress Report instead of the Monitoring Report. In contrast to the latter, the Progress Report provides broader context and more in-depth analysis with a more medium/long-term time horizon. The BMWi is the federal ministry in charge of Germany’s energy transition. It regularly publishes data, press releases and background information on the Energiewende.

The experts, commissioned by the federal government, publish their in-depth opinion together with the BMWi’s Monitoring Report, evaluating the energy transition’s progress and giving recommendations for future policy decisions.The independent expert commission is currently made up of four renowned energy experts and publishes an opinion with each Monitoring Report.

AGEE-Stat finalises its time series data on renewables development from 1990 to the previous year. The data include gross power production from renewables, share of renewables in primary energy consumption, installed renewable power capacity, avoided GHG emissions, and investment in construction of renewable energy facilities, among other things.AGEE-Stat is made up of experts from various federal ministries and agencies, and consolidates data on the development of renewable energy in Germany.

At the end of the year, AGEB publishes data for Germany's primary energy consumption and gross power generation in the current year, including the relative share from different energy sources. The first estimates are released in October and November. AGEB also provides separate files with graphs and data for each energy source individually.AGEB is an energy market research group set up by several major German energy industry associations and economic research institutes. Its purpose is to evaluate current statistics in all areas of the energy market and to publish their results.